Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Stephanie K Starks DBA Starks Counseling & Consultation Services LLC for grief counseling and training services for an amount not to exceed $78,030.00.
Columbus Public Health’s (CPH) Neighborhood Social Services section has a need for culturally sensitive crisis grief counseling for families after a violent loss. Additionally, the contractor will provide a sibling loss group, to effectively work with both youth and adults related to grief and emotional healing, provide a workshop on coping for families during the first year after a loss, and finally the contract will also provide one traumatic grief training to share best practices with professionals prior to contract’s end date. These services will be provided at Starks Counseling & Consultation Services and Columbus Public Health.
The contract period is from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027.
The contract compliance number for Stephanie K Starks is CC-042750. These services were advertised through Bonfire (RFQ026321) according to bidding requirements of the City Code and includes a provision to extend the contract on a yearly basis until January 31, 2028.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to remain aligned with the grant period and deliverables by not delaying the start of this contract. Authorization of grant funds was not provided by ADAMH until January 5, 2026. Any delay could result in reimbursement for services not being allowed per the grantor.
FISCAL IMPACT: Expenditures to provide these services are budgeted in the 2026 NSS Grief Counseling Grant within the Health Departments Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251. ($78,030.00)
Title
To authorize the Board of Health to enter into a contract with Stephanie K Starks, DBA Starks Counseling & Consultation Services LLC for crisis grief counseling services; to authorize the expenditure from the Health Departments Grants ...
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